Combination dental instrument



y 1957 B. F. TOFFLEMIRE 2,791,030

COMBINATION DENTAL INSTRUMENT 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1955 INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN F. TOFF'LEMIRE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O COMBINATION DENTAL INSTRUMENT Benjamin F. Tofiiemire, Lafayette, Calif.

Application November 21, 1955, Serial No. 547,897

11 Claims. (CI. 32-63) The present invention relates to improvements in a \combination dental instrument, including a matrix re- 1tainer, cotton-roll holder and saliva-ejector. It consists 'of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of ,parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In my United States Letters Patent No. 2,714,252, dated August 2, 1955, there is disclosed :a combination matrix retainer and cotton-roll and saliva-ejector holder. 'The structural features of the roll and saliva-ejector holder, in the foregoing patent, required the provision lot a special head on the matrix retainer, in order that :the holder could be attached thereto.

As the cardinal object of the present invention, 1 provide a dental instrument attachment which may be readily applied to my matrix band retainers, without re- .quiring any change in the latter. For instance, the uni- "versal matrix retainer, and the contra-angle retainer, disclosed in my United States Patents Nos. 2,502,903 and 2,591,745, respectively, both of which have gone into wide commercial use in the dental profession, armed services and universities, are adapted to have my improved attachment secured thereto, Without the necessity of any structural change being made therein.

Another object is to provide an attachment of the character described, which presents a somewhat more compact unit than that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,714,252 of August 2, 1955. It will be appreciated, of course, that the space in a patients mouth is restricted; and it must not be over-encumbered, in order to allow free access to the operative field. V

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. The novel features will be set'forth in the claims hereunto appended. 1

Drawings For a better understanding of the invention, reference should'be had'to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is an occlusal view of the lower teeth. of a patent, illustrating my improved cotton-roll holder and saliva-ejector attachment as being secured to a retainer, the latter having a looped matrix band thereon which is anchored to a tooth;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the retainer and attachment, as observed from plane IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bucco-lingual sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the vertical plane IV--IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the dental instrument attachment, with the cotton-roll holder omitted.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope ofthe annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing, I have shown a dental maice trix retainer which is designated generally at A. For the purpose of illustration only, the contra-angle retainer covered by my United States Patent No. 2,591,745 has been selected, with my cotton-roll and saliva-ejector attachment B as being secured thereto. Of course, this same attachment may be applied to the universal retainer disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,502,903. The retainer A has a looped dental matrix band C fastened thereto, which has been disclosed as being clamped around the axial contour of a posterior tooth D.

With respect to the structural details of the retainer A, it includes a bar-like frame 10 on which a matrixclamping block 11 is slidably mounted. This frame has a substantially U-shaped head E at its forward end (see Figure 4), which defines four parallel and spaced-apart fingers 12. As shown in Figure 1, the matrix band C has been looped back upon itself, and the arms 14 of the band have been introduced between a selected pair of thefingers 12. The terminal ends of these arms extend into a diagonal slot 15, which is formed in the block 11, and are clamped thereto by a spindle 16 that is threaded into this block.

Moreover, the retainer A is provided with a rotatable internally threaded sleeve 17, which is held against endwise movement relative to the frame 10. The threaded spindle 16 extends through this sleeve. When the sleeve 17 is turned, the spindle 16 and the clamping block 11 are advanced or retracted relative to the head E of the retainer. It will be'quite apparent that when the block 11 is moved awayfromthe head E, the loop of the matrix band C will be drawn around the axial contour of the banded tooth D, with the band anchoring the retainer A to the tooth.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the length of the fingers 12 are inclined with respect to the length of the bar 10. This angular arrangement will permit the fingers to remain parallel with the long axis of the banded tooth D, while the retainer A itself extends upwardly to clear the incisal edges of the anterior teeth F. The details of an appropriate matrix band are disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,720,701, dated October 18, 1955.

The cotton-roll-and saliva-ejector attachment B may be broadly referred to as being :a dental instrument attachment. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, it defines a detachable anchor member G having a saddle 18 projecting from its top. This saddle is positioned to slide over the exterior surface of the curved end 19 of the U-shaped head E of the retainer A, when the anchor member is moved against the head from a lateral direction. Moreover, the anchor member has a pin or pro jection 20 fixed thereto to extend therefrom. This pin is adapted for sliding into the interior of the retainer heard E, between the fingers 12 and immediately underneath the curved end 19 of the head (see Figure 4). The saddle 18 and pin 20 frictionally engage with retainer head E to thereby removably attach the anchor member G to the retainer A.

In order to retain a roll 21 of absorbent material on the buccal (cheek-side) of the posterior teeth, a rollholder H has been provided. This holder defines a pair of spaced-apart arms 22, the inner ends 23 which are journalled in a bore 24, the latter being fashioned in the upper part of the anchor member G (see Figure 5). These arms are adapted to extend trans-occlusally in a bucco-lingual direction relative to the banded tooth D, and are separated from one :another sufiiciently to give access to the entire occlusal surface of this ,tooth.

It will be noted that the arms 22 of the roll-holder are swingable up and down relative to the anchor member G, .as suggested in Figure 3. Hooks 25 are provided on the I outer ends of the arms 22 for engaging with and retainin'gthe roll"21in a p'osititin'adjacent to the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth. Thesaddle'ldis*fashioned with inclined grooves 26 in the opposite lateral sides thereof, which are disposed to receive the arms 22 when the latter are jswnn'g in one direction'intoanlinactive position (see full lines'imFigure Thesearriis are made from" r'esilientfmaterial' so as to snap into grooves 26 to thereby releasablyreta'infthelarms in}an',in ,a'ctiye position. The opposite lateral edges ofi'tlie sa'ddle ts are positioned'to engti'g'e'above thearrris 22' (seeFig'u're 4), when they arefswung intoan active roll-holding position, with 'thesefedges'releasably retaining the aims'in active position (see; dot-dash linesin Figured). v v

As illustrated in Figured jtlielroll-fholder'H ffiii'tii' er includes a bar 28, whichj int connec'tsfthe jouteqends of the arms 22. Thisbarjisengageable withthe 'rtill 21aiid is beiidable 'soas to vary'thefrtsiiliericyof'the arths "The bar'28 is curved slightly soilsto'extend generally 'paiiillel to the arch 'of'thet'e'eth. p t t p A For the purpose of removing excss saliya frd'm' the operative field, I have provitledfa saliva eje'ctor I "on the anchor member G. Thisejje cto r defi'ries"an1apertu'red suction tube 29, which communicatesiwitha tubula'r elliow or section 30, the latter fortningptirtl of the detachable anchor member G. The e'lbowis adapted to'hav', ssuetion hose 31 coupled thereto, whereby sanvawin bed'rawn through apertures 32 in the tube 29 fofdischargethriohgh thehose. As? shown in Figure'lfonerowof apertures are provided on 'the underneathf part'pf the suction tube, while a second row is fashionedon thelin'giial' aspect thereof. 7, p 7

It will be apparent from P'iguresZand thafthe" su'ction tube 29 is curved occlusallybetween its opposite ends. Thus this tube defines a rocker thafwillre st on the floor 33 of "the patients mouth, when the anchor member G is swung in either direction about the pin 20. h

The curved tube 29 of the attachment 'is" so designed that it -inayj be used with equal ease and efliciency on either the right or theleft side of the patients" mouth, thereby obviating the necessity of a plurality of instrumerits" in order to permit bilateral use. Tl1l$ 't tlbo is so designed astorest g'entlyon the soft tissues which make up the fio'or of the mouth in the sublingual area. :The yielding hatu're of these tissues in this area readily and comfortablyadapt themselves to'the coritouphf'the rocker tube (regai'dlss of the varying depthsf and' 's'hapes of mouths) without the 'need 'of "complicated andbhlky mechanical adjustment'features which'inight be rie'c e'ssa ry inothe'r les'sfavor'ed anatomical areas. p v p AS *illtist'r'ated,"the tubej'29 has capsii ti'se'c tired o posing e'ndsthereof. "The'suction ti'lbefdefi nes abo 35 through which a. cleaning eler nent *rnayfbe tele scqped, after at" least onefot thecaps 34"liasbeen removed. """An ordinary pi e cleaner will 'se'rve" the *pu pose" of removing foreign rnatterfrom'the'bore of thesu'ctiontube.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the siition tube 29 is moun'ted on theanchorhiemhr G so as to be spaced frorri'the lingual (tongue-side) sur faces' ofihe patients teeth, when "the retainer' A is anchored to" a patients tooth bythe matrix band'Cf Thus a follBTof absorbent material may be interposed-between th siic'ti'on tube and the patientsteeth on the lingual aspeet;

The apertures 32 on the curved rockertube 29 'are so placed that-they are below the"wate.r-line of'the saliva, whenthe instrument is in use; and not extending into space when 'air,jinstead of saliva, would be" withdiawn from the mouth. Moreover, these' 'aperturesf are o n the soft tissue sides of the'curved tube, thereby' obviating the drawingin of air on either the upper borderofthtube 29, or the suction of'cottonfibers;lint} etdffromthe cotton roll 37. p

With furthenregard tothe caps 34, they'serve a dual purpose "on the 'ends' of the suction tube 29. inasmuch as they are"im'pervious, thesecaps prevent'su (iii of", air in case either, or b'othj ends of the"cufved tillid slihuld "As previously mentioned, the caps 'may 'be removed to permit the bore 35 to be cleaned out. Such a clean-out operation may be accomplished by the pipe cleaner 36, as described earlier, or a small jet of water or air may be used for this purpose. The knurled surfaces on the caps 34 serve a dual purpose, i. e., aiding in holding the cotton roll 37 in place and facilitating removal of the caps.

The curved rocker tube 29 occupies a pivotal relationship with the saddle 18and the'pin 20, when attached to the contra-angle retainer A, thereby maintaining a func tioning angulation with respect to the retainer, regardless of whether itiis being used on'a distally demotethird molar D or on a mesially forward bicuspid D The suction tube 29 is somewhat smaller than the tubular elbow 30, and is designed to take up the least amount of space under and alongside the patients tongue. Accumulated saliva is withdrawn from both the mesial and distal curved portions of the tubefand the saliva is discharged into the larger elbow 30. The latter'may be connected by the hose 31 or rubber tubing to a dental and aspirator, or a surgical vacuum pump,or to a central suction system, as the'operator elects. 'The linguallyarched elbow 30'serves to hold the patient's'tongue away from the operative field.

The roll-holder H, which retainsithe cottonroll'21 on the'buccal side of the teeth; permits the operator to place the'contra-an'gle retainer A in place oh the prepared tooth, such "as D, of the patient; apply mesial and distal separating wedges (not shown) from the buccal aspect; contour and festoon the band Cindependently, and in advance of placing the attachnient B on the retainer A. The'cotton rolls 21 and 37'rnay be inserted into position, prior to lowering the arms 22. These rolls serve as retractors; and actually drape or isolate the field of operation, similar to the procedures used in general surgery.

'The elbow 3t) is disposed on the opposite side of the anchor member G from that of the slide 18 and pin 20; and it may be used very effectively as a handle; when attaching theanc'hor member to the retainer head E, or removing the former from the latter.

"*As shown in Figure l, the retainer A and my attachment B have'beeri applied to the lower left quadrant K of'the patients teeth. It will be obvious then when teeth areto be restored in the lower right quadrant L, the anchor member G maybe attached to the-opposite side of-the retainer head E from that shown in thedrawing, thereby permitting the ret'ainer'A to remain on the lingual (tongue-side) of the'patients teeth.

1. In a combination dental instrument: a matrix retainer, including meansioperable for clamping a looped matrix band around a tooth; 'the retainenhaving a substantially U.-shaped head, whichdefines a curved end having an exterior" surface; the retainer further having Spaced-apart guide fingers whichtdefine spaces through which the band is adapted to extend; an anchor member having .a' saddle projecting therefrom, and being positioiied to'detachably slide overthe exterior surface of thc'urved end of the U-shaped head of the'retainer. whenthe anchor member is moved against the head'from a lateral' dir'ection; the anchor member having a projec- 'tion fiited thereto so as to extend therefrom; with the stantially U-shaped head, which defines a curved end having an exterior surface; the retainer further having spaced-apart guide fingers which define spaces through which the band is adapted to extend; an anchor member having a saddle projecting therefrom, and being positioned to detacha bly slide over the exterior surface of the curved end of the U-shaped head of the retainer, when the anchor member is moved against the head from a lateral direction; the anchor member having a projection fixed thereto so as to extend therefrom, with the projection being disposed for sliding into the interior of the retainer head between the fingers of the latter; the saddle and projection coacting with one another to frictionally engage with the retainer head to thereby removably secure the anchor member to the retainer; and a roll-holder defining a pair of resilient spaced-apart arms, each having an inner end thereof journalled to the anchor member, with the arms being swingable up and down relative to the anchor member; these arms being positioned to extend trans-occlusally with respect to the banded tooth, and having hooks engageable with a roll of absorbent material, which is disposed on the buccal aspect of the patients teeth, for holding the roll in position adjacent to the tooth around which the matrix band has been c1. ped by the retainer.

3. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 2; and in which the saddle is fashioned with grooves, which are disposed to receive the arms, when the latter are swung upwardly into an inactive position; these arms being swingable so as to snap into the grooves to thereby releasably retain the arms in inactive position.

4. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 2; and in which the saddle is provided with opposite lateral edges, which are positioned to engage with the arms when they are swung downwardly into an active roll-holding position, with these edges releasably retaining the arms in active position.

5. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 2; and in which the roll-holder is further provided with a bar interconnecting outer ends of the arms; this bar being engageable with the roll, and being bendable so as to vary the resiliency of the arms.

6. In a combination dental instrument: a matrix retainer, including means operable for clamping a looped matrix band around a tooth; the retainer having a substantially U-shaped head, which defines a curved end having an exterior surface; the retainer further having spaced-apart guide fingers, which define spaces through which the band is adapted to extend; an anchor member having a saddle projecting therefrom, and being positioned to detachably slide over the exterior surface of the curved end of the U-shaped head of the retainer, when the anchor member is moved against the head from a lateral direction; the anchor member having a projection fixed thereto so as to extend therefrom, with the projection being disposed for sliding into the interior of the retainer head between the fingers of the latter; the saddle and projection coacting with one another to frictionally engage with the retainer head to thereby remova'bly secure the anchor member to the retainer; and a salivaejector carried by the anchor member, and including an apertured suction tube adapted to be disposed in a patients mouth to aspirate secretions therefrom; the suction tube being supported by the anchor member.

7. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 6; and in which the suction tube is curved occlusally; the tube defining a rocker that will rest gently on the floor of the patients mouth.

8. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 6; and in which the suction tube has caps removably secured to opposite ends thereof; this tube defining a bore which may be exposed for cleaning when at least one of the caps is removed.

9. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 6; and in which the suction tube is mounted on the anchor member so as to be spaced from the lingual surfaces of the patients teeth, when the matrix band is anchored to a patients tooth by the retainer, whereby a roll of absorbent material may be interposed between the suction tube and the patients teeth.

10. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 6; and in which the saliva-ejector includes a tubular section which is disposed on the opposite side of the anchor member from that of the saddle and projection, whereby this tubular section may be utilized as a handle when attaching the anchor member to the retainer head, or removing the anchor member from the retainer head; the tubular section being curved to extend lingually over the patients tongue.

11. The combination dental instrument, as defined in claim 6; and in which the apertures in the suction tube are fashioned on the lingual and underneath surfaces of this tube.

No references cited. 

